When I was dressed, I grabbed my bag and put my jacket on. The night was still warm but my body felt chilled to the bone. My car keys were next to my handbag on the table in the hall; when I put them there the night before, I thought I’d be staying for only a few minutes. I picked them up without making a sound, then let myself out of the house, closing the door quietly behind me.

I crept down the driveway, glad that there was no automatic lighting that would have exposed me. The night was still, the sky the darkest blue. Nobody was around. All the lights in the houses nearby were off, the cars safely parked in their driveways. It was as though I was the only person awake.

My car was parked on the road next to their house. I left my lights off when I started the engine and only put them on when I drove around the corner and onto the main road.

The car was cold and I rubbed my arms to warm up. As I did so I realized I’d left something behind. Harry had given me a heavy silver bracelet for my last birthday and I’d been wearing it the day before. For a second I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t go back into the house to ask for it back, yet Harry would notice if it was missing. Then I shrugged and carried on driving. I knew Tom would see it, would hide it from Ruby. I’d tell Harry I’d lost it. I’d feign innocence. Shock, even.

I drove in silence, not wanting to hear music that would make me think of this night again. When I drew up at my house half an hour later, I breathed a sigh of relief to see Harry’s car wasn’t there. Of course it wouldn’t be; it would be at the airport, left happily there while he went off to have fun with Ruby.

My stomach was clenched so tightly I had to squeeze my arms around myself. What a mess.

Even though I knew he wasn’t there, I still tiptoed into our house and furtively checked each room was empty before I could relax. Then I ran a deep, scented bath and while I waited for it to fill, I scrubbed my teeth again and again to get rid of the smell and taste of wine. The taste of Tom. I closed my eyes and vowed I wouldn’t drink again. I couldn’t be trusted.